Wipha typhoon reaches Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula

The weather is expected to improve on October 18

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Photos EPA / STRINGER SOUTH KOREA OUT

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, October 17 (Itar-Tass) - The typhoon Wipha that roared up Japan’s east coast has reached southern coast of Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, having subsided to a cyclone. Rescue services in the area have been put on alert.

The cyclone is now raging in the southwest on the peninsula, a spokesman for the Kamchatka weather service told Itar-Tass. The cyclone has brought hurricane-force winds and drenching rain to the area. Wind gusts near the settlement of Ozernovsky reach 40 meters per second. In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the winds so far are not that strong, not exceeding 15 meters a second.

Weather forecasts say that the situation will worsen in the next few hours. The peak of the storm is expected by mid-day on Thursday.

Hurricane winds are expected to stir the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific around Kamchatka, with waves reaching 8-10 meters in height. A warning was issued to shipping companies to take measure to ensure safety of their ships.